From Waste to Wealth: India’s Agri-Circular Economy in Action

India’s agricultural sector is undergoing a remarkable transformation, not only in how we grow food, but also in how we manage what was once considered waste. Crop residues, cow dung, floral waste, and food scraps are increasingly being converted into compost, biofertilizers, biopesticides, and even clean energy. This shift towards an agri-circular economy is tackling challenges like soil degradation and stubble burning, while reducing farmers’ dependency on costly chemical inputs. 

At the same time, circular farming is opening new livelihood pathways. By creating green jobs, lowering farm input costs, and unlocking income streams, it is fostering resilience and self-reliance in rural India. More importantly, it is inspiring a cultural transition, from a ‘use and discard’ mindset to one that values regeneration, resource efficiency, and community ownership. 

At the forefront of this change are the Syngenta Foundation India (SFI) and the Agri-Entrepreneur Growth Foundation (AEGF). Together, we are bringing the principles of circular agriculture to the last mile through the Agri-Entrepreneur (AE) model. Trained rural youth, particularly women, are leading this change by introducing and scaling practices like biofertilizer and biopesticide production, decentralized organic input centers, and the repurposing of crop residues into mulch, helping farmers reduce costs, suggesting alternative practices while tackling issues like stubble burning. 

Digital innovations, such as the AEDD platform, further strengthen this model by enabling training, data tracking, and farmer outreach. Looking ahead, initiatives like I-RISE—launched by Syngenta India in collaboration with SFI, will equip over rural youth with the skills to build sustainable enterprises, many of which will anchor the future of India’s agri-circular economy. 

At its heart, this movement is about more than recycling waste; it is about empowering rural entrepreneurs, building climate-smart livelihoods, and reimagining India’s agricultural future.